Auxiliary shelf



April 7, 1953 P. F. LITCHFIELD 2,633,995

AUXILIARY ySHELF Filed oct. 31, 1949 ATTQRWEY Patented Apr. 7, ,1953

UNITED .STATES PA'IENT VOFFICE Philip F. Litchfield, Minneapolis, Minn.

y Application October 31, 1949, Serial No. 124,533

This invention relates to auxiliary shelves,

and particularly to a shelf, that may be supported without fasteners, at either the front or back of a regular shelf, and also mounted to extend upwardly as well as downwardly.

Auxiliary shelves, sub-shelves and racks or holders have been devised for use in connection with principal shelving, but have been intended for special uses, as in medicine cabinets, have required screws or nails for securing same, or have been limited to a position downward from a shelf, and usually could not be applied to both front and back edges of the shelf. An auxiliary shelf is needed, that is applicable to kitchen cupboards and to shelving in general, in shops, stores and the like, which shelf does not require screws or nails for securing same, and which may be applied to either the front or back edges of the principal shelf, and extend either upwardly or downwardly.

An important object of my invention is to provide an auxiliary shelf for general use, that may be secured to a principal shelf without the use of screws or nails.

Another important object is to provide such a shelf, so it is not limited as to position, but may be applied to the front edge or the back edge of the principal shelf, and be positioned either above or below the principal shelf.

Another object is to provide such a shelf, which l,

may be formed from a single blank of sheet metal, so that it is simple and cheap to manufacture and still is very durable.

Other objects will 'be apparent from the description and appended claim.'

For a full disclosure of my invention, reference is made to the description following and to the drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a preferred form of my auxiliary shelf, secured to the back edge of a principal shelf and extending downwardly.

Fig. 2 is a section-al View of the same form, secured to the front edge of a principal shelf and extending upwardly.

Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the same form, secured to the front edge of a principal shelf and extending downwardly, but having sections, struck out from the blank, to make it particularly adaptable in this position, as to viewing of articles on the shelf.

In the preferred form, disclosed by Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a shelf portion lo is formed, with a two way extending rolled edge Il, at the front and two ends. This edge is of substantial width in 1 Claim. l(Cl. 211-90) each direction, to retain articles placed on the shelf, when shelf is placed either in an upwardly or a downwardly extending position. A vertical portion I2 brackets the shelf portion l0. To form a basis for clamping action, so that the auxiliary shelf may be secured in a position extending upwardly as well as downwardly from the principal shelf, an inclined portion I5 is formed. It will be noted that this also forms a very favorable line of suspension in either position. A U-shaped portion I5, adjacent to the portion l5, clamps over the edge of the principal shelf. With sheet metal of substantial stiffness, this forms a spring grip over the edge of the shelf. To make the auxiliary shelf particularly adaptable as to viewing of articles on the shelf, when applied to the front edge of a principal shelf and extending downwardly, I provide openings l1 by striking out sections, as shown in Fig. 3.

My auxiliary shelf may be readily applied at any point on the front edge of a principal shelf, and display articles placed on top of same, when extending upwardlyy and display articles through the openings Il, when extending downwardly. It may be applied at any point on the back edge by sliding the principal shelf forward, attaching to the edge and then restoring the principal shelf to position. It is evident that the openings Il are not required for display of articles in this position, whether extending upwardly or downwardly. The shelf may be provided with an enamel Vfinish of any desired color, preferably in white for kitchen cabinets to store cans of spices and the like, and in many different bright colors for stores and shops. It will increase capacity of shelving a great deal, where smaller articles are also handled, which can be supported on the auxiliary shelving, releasing the main permanent shelving for the larger articles. `For example in a gift shop or antique shop, small figurines and articles may be set on the auxiliary shelves, with vases and larger articles on the principal shelves. It segregates the small articles from the large articles, and provides a better display of the smaller articles, when set up separately above the larger articles. The auxiliary shelves are easily placed and removed and changed from one location and level to another, to best meet the needs as to line of sight, and placing of smaller articles adjacent to larger` articles with which they are associated. It affords an effective means of increasing sales.

Methods of manufacture may dictate some variations in the structures above described.

The shelves may vary considerably as to size, to meet the different requirements, as it may be used in medicine cabinets as well as large shelves in hardware stores. All unfinished edges might be rolled and the contours arranged for greater ornamentation. It affords space for advertising purposes, if desired, and may be used as a premium article. It is convenient to place and remove, requiring no fasteners. It may be made from a .single blank of sheet metal, .so vthat it is simple, durable and economical to manufacture.

While I have shown and described preferred forms of my invention, it is obvious that man-y changes, which are within the scope of my invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art. I therefore desire to be limited only by .the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: Anhauxiliaryushelfvor,applicationmtogannedge of a principal shelf, consisting-of sheet metal formed into -a shelf portion, a ,back portion and a clamping portion, said Yback `portion ,joining said ,shelf portion at right .angles to bracket said shelf portion `but having an inclined Aportion to position line of action of said clamping portion 'at substantially the mid point of 4said shelf portion, said clamping vportieri having -a 4 substantially U-shaped cross section adapted to engage an edge of a principal shelf and contact both top and bottom surfaces of said principal shelf, whereby said auxiliary shelf may extend in an upward direction as well as a downward direction.

PHILIP F. LITCHFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The "following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .Number Name Date 1,270,718 Ford June 25, 1918 11,331,621 :Carlin Feb. 24, 1920 1,792,186 Rishel l Feb. 10, 1931 1,857,522 Ungeheuer May 10, 1932 .1,864,907 Hyams June 28, 1932 2,003,244 Carboni May 28, 1935 2,090,176 Besancon Aug. 17, 1937 2,197,870 Krasberg Apr. 23, 1940 '2,444,584 Touchett July 6, 1948 2,472,058 Artley June 7, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 475,139 Great Britain Nov. 15, 1937 

